Kentucky Women’s Basketball Drops Another Tough One at Texas: Turnovers, Lineup Questions, and Signs of Life
Kentucky’s recent slide continued Monday night in Austin, falling 64-53 to Texas in a game that, frankly, slipped away thanks to a familiar culprit: turnovers. The Wildcats have now lost five of their last six games and sit below .500 in SEC play under head coach Kenny Brooks. With five conference games still left on the schedule, there’s time to turn things around-but the issues that showed up against the Longhorns need to be addressed fast.
Let’s break down what stood out in this latest loss and where Kentucky goes from here.
Turnovers Continue to Derail Kentucky's Offense
There’s no sugarcoating it-23 turnovers is a backbreaker. That’s the most Kentucky has coughed it up all season, and while they did force 16 themselves, the -7 turnover margin proved costly in a game where every possession mattered.
Tonie Morgan and Teonni Key, often the team’s primary ball handlers, each committed six turnovers. That’s a tough stat line to overcome, especially against a team like Texas, who thrives on defensive pressure.
The Longhorns came into the game ranked among the top defenses in the nation, holding opponents to just 54.8 points per game and forcing nearly 24 turnovers a night. Kenny Brooks even called them “the best defense in the country” postgame-and given the havoc they caused, it’s hard to argue.
But while Texas deserves credit, this wasn’t an isolated issue. Turnovers have been a recurring theme for Kentucky, and with March looming, it’s a problem that needs solving. Fast.
Asia Boone’s Case for the Starting Lineup
One of the few bright spots in the loss was Asia Boone, who came off the bench and immediately gave Kentucky a spark. She knocked down her first four three-point attempts, finishing with 16 points and three rebounds in 29 minutes. That’s efficient, confident basketball-exactly what this team needs more of.
Compare that to Jordan Obi, who went scoreless for the first time all season and has just seven total points over Kentucky’s last three games. Boone already averages more minutes than Obi, but starting her could give the Wildcats a much-needed offensive jolt right out of the gate.
Now, Boone does give up some size compared to Obi, and that matters on the defensive glass. But her quickness and ability to stretch the floor are real assets.
And maybe, just maybe, moving Obi to a sixth-woman role could help her reset and find her rhythm again. Sometimes a change in perspective is all a player needs to get back on track.
The Record Doesn’t Tell the Whole Story
It’s easy to look at Kentucky’s recent record and think this team is spiraling. But dig a little deeper, and you’ll see a group that’s playing better basketball than the win-loss column suggests.
Consider this: Texas just beat No. 6 LSU by 13 last week in the same building.
Earlier this season, they also took down No. 10 Oklahoma.
Their only losses? On the road at LSU and No.
3 South Carolina-two of the best programs in the country. This Longhorns team is legit, and they showed it again on Monday.
Kentucky, despite the loss, showed signs of progress. Since Teonni Key’s return from injury, the team has looked more cohesive.
The execution isn’t always there for four full quarters, but the effort, energy, and flashes of high-level play are. This isn’t a group that’s given up-far from it.
They’re fighting, and if they can clean up the turnovers and find the right lineup balance, the wins will come.
Looking Ahead
There’s no doubt Kentucky is in a tough stretch. But the pieces are there. The return of Key, the emergence of Boone, and a defense that’s still competing every night give this team a foundation to build on.
The SEC doesn’t offer many breathers, but with five games left in conference play, there’s still time to build momentum heading into the postseason. The margin for error is slim, but if the Wildcats can tighten up their ball security and find a more consistent offensive rhythm, they could still make some noise down the stretch.
For now, the focus shifts to the next challenge-and for Kentucky, every game from here on out is an opportunity to turn the corner.